Suspicious object hanging off SUV turns out to be hoax, LCPD says

By James Staley / Sun-News

Posted:
02/02/2013 01:12:58 PM MST

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The Doña Ana County Sheriff s Department investigates a vehicle Saturday along University Avenue after a fellow motorist flagged down the SUV because something was hanging from the vehicle, which prompted the driver to alert authorities when he couldn t determine what was coming from the vehicle. Instead of putting anybody in harms way were going to use technology to determine what it is, or at least get a closer look, Las Cruces Police Sgt. Rob Gutierrez said as investigators used a robot to search the vehicle.

LAS CRUCES — It shut down part of University Avenue and required attention Saturday from two local law enforcement agencies, but what was reported to police as a suspicious object dangling from an SUV turned out to be PVC pipe and string.

"It was just a hoax," said Sgt. Roberto Gutierrez, a Las Cruces Police Department spokesperson.

Police said they haven't determined the who placed the pipe and string on the SUV.

It started about 10:30 a.m., Gutierrez said, when a man reported what appeared to be wires hanging from his vehicle. He had been driving on University Avenue when another car alerted him to the object.

Gutierrez said the man parked his car near University Avenue and Desert Sands Street so officials could investigate. At noon access to that area was still blocked.

Officials wrapped up their work by 3 p.m., Gutierrez said.

Dona Ana County Sheriff's deputies were called in to use robots with cameras to safely investigate the object.

Gutierrez said investigators were cautious because they didn't know what the object was. They were treating it as it could possibly be an explosive, but, as Gutierrez noted before they identified the object, it could be "a rope."

In such investigations, Gutierrez said, nearby residents are often evacuated. He said they had not been in this case because the car with the suspicious object was located far enough from houses that it was not a concern.

James Staley may be reached at 575-541-5476. Follow him on Twitter @auguststaley